Income tax return deadline extended until July 31

The deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns has been extended from June 30 until July 31.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Ericah Shafudah, yesterday confirmed the extension and added that the deadline for the payment of assessed tax by individuals for the 2015/16 tax year has also been extended to July 31.

“Affected tax payers must use this opportunity and ensure that their returns are submitted and payments are made before or on the new deadline,” read yesterday’s statement by Shafudah.

Earlier this year New Era reported that a glitch resulted in tax return form not being printed on time. The mishap with the tax return forms at the Ministry of Finance was confirmed when Minister of Finance Calle Schlettwein made his budget announcement in parliament.

Also confirming the glitch, Commissioner of Inland Revenue and national chief of the Office of the Receiver of Revenue Justice Mafongwe told New Era a delay of the timely printing and delivery of the return forms was experienced by the agent responsible for the printing.

After the announcement of the delay of printing, the absence of tax return forms for preliminary tax payments resulted in the Office of the Receiver of Revenue making blank forms available at their offices that could be obtained and completed and handed in with payment of tax.